Spanning 104.5 miles, the trip from Clarkdale to Glendale is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes behind the wheel for this transit, which is easily manageable as a one-day excursion. Since the route involves no formal stops, you should anticipate a consistent drive time without major interruptions. Budgeting about $21 for fuel will cover your transit costs between these two Arizona hubs. Because the entire route remains within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in climate or landscape, making this a predictable and reliable trek for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.5 miles from Clarkdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
41 mi
40m
Black Canyon Freeway
30.1 mi
33m
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12.1 mi
20m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
West Glendale Avenue
4 mi
8m
North Main Street
3.5 mi
6m
North Black Canyon Highway
3.4 mi
3m
South Broadway
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 41 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarkdale, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on US 89A Historic
0.3 mi·26 sec·Main Street
2
Turn straight onto US 89A Historic
1.6 mi·2 min·South Broadway
3
Continue on US 89A Historic
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic
88 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
5
Continue on US 89A Historic
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
6
Continue on AZ 260
420 ft·5 sec·South Main Street
7
Continue on AZ 260
4.6 mi·7 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
166 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
9
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
10
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
158 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
11
Continue on AZ 260
2.1 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
191 ft·8 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
13
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
198 ft·8 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
15
Continue on AZ 260
1.0 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
152 ft·2 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17
Continue on AZ 260
1.1 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
104 ft·4 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
19
Continue on AZ 260
1.2 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
155 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
21
Continue on AZ 260
0.4 mi·45 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto I 17
41 mi·40 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
24
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
27
Continue on I 17
20 mi·22 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 205Toward Glendale AvenueUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
30
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
4.0 mi·8 min·West Glendale Avenue
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left onto North 57th Drive
0.2 mi·35 sec·North 57th Drive
32
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi·24 sec·Grand Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Without any planned stops or highway segments, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Clarkdale to avoid searching for stations along local roads. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can make the 1 hour and 49 minutes feel more demanding than a straight highway drive, so plan for a quick stretch break if needed. Because you are navigating local streets, stay mindful of traffic patterns that might fluctuate throughout the day. A smart approach is to check your navigation apps before heading out, as local road construction or congestion can easily impact your travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.5 miles from Clarkdale, AZ, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarkdale, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clarkdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 102.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Clarkdale, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 41 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 102.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
17.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
98.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
6
98.5 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|West Glendale Avenue
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
102.7 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|US 60 / Grand Avenue
Turn right onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.50 one way
$41.00 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.69
$43.39
premium
$5.59
$22.65
$45.30
diesel
$5.61
$22.72
$45.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.9
0
$10.80
$4.94
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$9.00
$4.12
EV Truck/SUV
41.2
0
$14.41
$6.59
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Clarkdale, AZ
Late night
in Clarkdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 AM
MST
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Late night
in Glendale on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. You will navigate primarily via South Broadway, North Main Street, and South Main Street, as this route features a 0% highway share. Because the path relies entirely on local roads, you should expect a more technical experience than a high-speed freeway sprint. There are no extended, uninterrupted stretches here, so the pace remains steady rather than fast. Stay alert at intersections and keep your focus sharp, as the winding nature of these local streets defines the unique personality of this 104.5-mile trip.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near US 89A Historic / North Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (US 89A Historic / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.
The longest stretch is about 41 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (US 89A Historic / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Glendale, AZ before heading back.
